Tomat



A. TOMAT June 21, 1960 FOLDING SEAT Filed Jan. 2, 1959 n a n M, M m w m R, r 4 dmw m 4 8 y m M m %V 0 6 m w 3 4.. M M a x J E EN? I M.

,4 TTOE/VE VS FOLDING SEAT August Tomat, 2410 Chase St., Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

' Filcddan.2,1959, Ser. No. 784,502

* 2 can. (CL 155-449 This invention relates to a portable folding seat, es-

pecially but not exclusively for hunters and other sportsmen.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a practical and efficient seat of this kind which is strong yet light inweight, which when folded is in a compact and flat form suitable tobe conveniently carried on the person by means'of a shoulder or other strap.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the inventionwill be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat of the invention in unfolded, set-up condition;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, partially folded positions of the seat panel and the base panels being shown in dotted lines; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view on the scale of Figure 1, showing the seat in partly folded condition.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated seat, generally designated 10, is an assembly comprising a standard 12, a base panel 14, a seat the same widths, on the order of six inches, although this can be varied, and the panels 14 and 16 are preferably of the same length, although this can be varied, on

the order of twelve inches. The standard 12 is longer than the panels and is preferably of the order of sixteen and one-half inches long. The panels and the standard can suitably be of three-quarter inch pine wood or of plywood.

The standard 12 is preferably of vertically elongated rectangular form and has upper and lower ends 18 and 20. To the same side of the standard are secured, as by means of bolts 22, the vertical leaves 24 of similar upper and lower hinges 26 and 28 which have horizontal leaves 39 which are secured, as by means of bolts 32 to the facing sides of the panels 14 and 16. A screw eye or the like 34 is secured in the side of the standard 12 remote from the hinges 26 and 28 to which can be secured by suitable means, such as a snap book 36, a carrying strap 38.

The base panel 14 is preferably elongated rectangular in form, and has opposed first and second ends 40 and 42 and upper and lower sides 44 and 46, respectively. At the midlength point the upper side 44 is indicated by a transverse groove 48 to conformably seat the lower end 20 of the standard 12, as shown in Figure 2, in the set-up condition of the seat 10, the vertical hinge leaf 24 of the lower hinge 28 being secured to the standard at a point that the lower end 20 projects below the leaf 24 for this purpose. The horizontal leaf 30 of the lower ice hinge 28 is secured upon the upper side 44 of the base panel, as by means of the bolts 32.

Angled detent plates 50 and 52 are-secured around the first and second ends 40 and 42 of the base panel 14 and involve vertical flanges 54 which bear against the panel ends and horizontal flanges 56 which bear against the lower side 46 of the panel. Securing means for the plates 50 and 52 can be bolts 58 extending through the panel 14 and the horizontal flanges 56. At midlength points the vertical flanges 54 are provided with detent openings or holes 60, with which are registered recesses 62 in the panel ends. As shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and in Figure 3, the base panel 14 is arranged to be folded upwardly along the standard 12 from the setup position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2. The heads 64 of the bolts 58 can serve as ground-engaging feet, as shown in Figure 2.

The seat panel 16 is also preferably elongated rectangular in form and has upper and lower sides 66 and 68 and first and second ends 70 and 72, respectively. The lower side 68 is indented by a transverse groove 74 at its midpoint to seat the upper end 18 of the standard 12, and the vertical leaf 24 of the upper, hinge 26 is displaced downwardly from the upper edge 18 for this pur pose, the horizontal leaf 30 being secured "to the lower side 68 by the bolts 32, so that the seat panel 16 can be folded downwardly and against the hinge equipped side of the standard 12, from the full line position thereof shown in Figures 1 and 2. Secured, in suitable manner upon and covering the upper side 66 of the panel 16 is a pad 76, preferably of foam rubber.

Secured over the ends of the seat panel 16 are first and second angled anchor plates 78 and 80, which have vertical flanges 82 bearing against the panel ends and horizontal flanges 84 bearing upon the upper side 66 and secured in place by suitable means, such as bolts 86, traversing the panel and the flanges 84. The vertical flanges 82 have holes 88 at their midpoints with which are registered recesses 90 in the panel ends 70 and 72.

Retaining means for holding the base and seat panels in set-up positions on the standard 12, comprise similar first and second rods 92 and 94, respectively, each of which has an outwardly turned and closed loop 96 on its upper end which is securably and permanently engaged through a hole 88 in the vertical flange of the related anchor plates 78 and 80, and an inwardly and upwardly turned hook 98 on its lower end for temporary securable engagements through a hole 60 in the vertical flange 54 of a related detent plate 50, 52.

In order to set up the seat 10, from a folded condition, the base and seat plates are hinged to engage their grooves with the ends of the standard, whereupon the hooks 98 of the retaining rods are engaged in the holes in the vertical flanges of the detent plate-s 50, 52. The rods are composed of separate upper and. lower sections 100 and 102, which are connected by turnbuckles 104 threaded thereon, the purpose of which are to shorten the lengths of the rods 92 and 94, with their hooks 98 engaged with the detent plates, as described, in order to tension the rods and thereby hold the base and seat panels in position across the ends of the standard. Rotation of the turnbuckles 104 in directions opposite to the tightening directions obviously lengthens the rods 92 and 94 and enables removal of their hooks 98 from the detent plates, so that the seat can be folded flat for carrying, as by means of the strap 38.

Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of :the invention, it is to be understood that any change or changes in the structure and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding seat comprising a standard having upper and lower ends, a seat panel related to said upper end and a. panel related. to said lower end, upper and lower hinge means secured to one side of the standard and to the facing sides of the seat and base panels and enabling the seat, and base panels to be unfolded to engage and extend crosswise of the upper and lower ends of the standard and folded to lie along the said one side of the standard, and retaining means for holding the seat and base panels in unfolded positions on the ends of the standard, anchor plates secured on ends of one of the panels and detent plates secured on the ends of the other panel, said plates having holes therein, said retaining means comprising rods having closed loops on one end thereof permanently secured through holes of plates and hooks on. their other end releasably engaged through holes of plates, said rods being extensible and contractible.

2. A folding seat comprising a standard having upper and lower ends, a seat panel related to said upper end and a panel related to said lower end, upper and lower hinge means secured to one side of the standard and to the facing sides of the seat and base panels and enabling the seat and base panels to be unfolded to engage and extend crosswise of the upper and lower ends of the standard and folded to lie along the said one side of the standard, and retaining means for holding the seat and base panels in unfolded positions on the ends of the standard, anchor plates secured on ends of one of the panels and detent plates secured on the ends of the other panel, said plates having holes therein, said retaining means comprising rods having closed loops on one end thereof permanently secured through holes of plates and hooks on their other end releasably engaged through holes of plates, said rods being composed of separate sections, and turnbuckles threaded on and extending between sections for extending and contracting the rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 540,384 Hall June 4, 1895 928,533 McKay July 20, 1909 1,133,109 Derbyshire Mar. 23, 1915 1,198,431. Forsyth Sept. 19, 1916 1,544,935 Preston July 7, 1925 1,751,677 Amstutz Mar. 25', 1930 2,047,680 Feldman July 14, 1936 2,268,732 Walter et a1 Jan. 6, 1942 2,384,234 Breese Sept. 4, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 390,509 Germany Feb. 26', 1924 89,538 Sweden June 22, 

